Workpiece.inspection – Woodstock W1770 User Manual

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W1770 21" Bandsaw w/Foot Brake

ATIO
NS

Workpiece.Inspection

Some wood workpieces are not safe to cut or may require

modification before they are safe to cut.

Before.cutting.wood,.get.in.the.habit.of.inspecting.all.

workpieces.for.the.following:

•. Foreign.Objects.(Figure.48):.Nails, staples, dirt,

rocks and other foreign objects are often embedded

in wood. While cutting, these objects can become

dislodged and hit the operator or break the blade,

which might then fly apart. Always visually inspect

your workpiece for these items. If they can't be

removed, do NOT cut the workpiece.

•. Large/Loose Knots:.Loose knots can become dis-

lodged during the cutting operation. Large knots can

cause blade damage. Choose workpieces that do not

have large/loose knots or plan ahead to avoid cut-

ting through them.

•. Wet or "Green" Stock: Cutting wood with a moisture

content over 20% causes unnecessary wear on the

blade and yields poor results.

• Excessive Warping: Workpieces with excessive

cupping, bowing, or twisting are dangerous to cut

because they are unstable and can move unpredict-

ably when being cut. DO NOT cut excessively warped

wood.

• Minor Warping: Workpieces with slight cupping can

be safely supported if the cupped side faces the

table or fence, as shown in

Figure.49. On the con-

trary, a workpiece supported on the bowed side will

rock during a cut, leading to loss of control.

Figure.48. Choosing wood without foreign

objects embedded.

Cut with

this side

down

Cut with

this side

against fence

Figure.49. Cutting wood with minor

warping.

Because.of.its.unpredicatable.nature,.use.extreme.

caution. if. cutting. warped. stock.. The. difference.

between.acceptable.and.unacceptable.warped.stock.

varies.from.machine.to.machine..If.you.are.in.doubt,.

square-up.the.stock.first.or.do.not.cut.it.